2019 Neil Ashmead Grand Tourer Shiraz

First released from the 2008 vintage, the Grand Tourer Shiraz is a wine named after and produced in honour of Elderton co-founder, Neil Ashmead. Neil, who along with wife Lorraine, established Elderton and was a vital link in creating the Barossa’s currently enjoyed status as one of Australia’s most important viticultural areas. Infectious enthusiasm was one of Neil’s drivers in helping to pioneer the revitalisation of the region from the doom and gloom era of the late 1970s and early 80s.

Neil was a ‘Barossa Road Warrior’ like no other. Driving tirelessly from city to city with a car loaded with wine, doing tastings and dinners with whoever would listen, and generally spruiking the Barossa in a time where people were not really interested in a region that was stereotyped as a fortified producer. It was his love of fast cars that made this pursuit a little easier, thus the unusual choice for the name of this Shiraz. Unfortunately Neil passed away prematurely in 1997, however is succeeded by his two sons, Cameron and Allister, who believe this wine to be a very fitting tribute to an amazing individual who was always willing to push the boundaries of expectations and limitations.

Traditionally this wine is a unique expression of Barossa Shiraz from our Nuriootpa vineyard planted in 1954 and more recently our Greenock Shiraz vineyards planted in 1980. These two parcels whilst surrounded by other blocks of Shiraz act quite differently. They are often the first to ripen and have a beautiful distinct and powerful floral note balanced with a very linear expression of Shiraz on the palate. This 2019 vintage is sourced from our Greenock vineyard alone, having lost the most part of our Nuriootpa Shiraz to frost.